DEA Norge’s first Dvalin module set for Norwegian Sea

April 25, 2018

DEA Norge’s Dvalin project development located offshore Norway has marked a new milestone as the 577-ton H25 module is prepared for transportation to Statoil’s Heidrun platform in the Norwegian Sea.

The H25 module on its way out. Pipes in the foreground are for the next Dvalin module: the M40.

Last Monday, the module was moved 300 meters from the North Sea Hall to quay at the Aibel yard in Haugesund. The load out completes a nine-month long fabrication phase, DEA Norge said on Wednesday.

AIbel got the contract to build two modules for installation on the Heidrun platform in connection with the Dvalin project back in October 2016. The company started building the H25 module last August. The second module M40 is scheduled for installation in 2019.

The DEA Dvalin Host Manager, Roy Padgett, said: “Statoil and Aibel have performed exceptionally well to achieve this milestone as per schedule with virtually zero carry-over work to offshore. The load out is a great moment for DEA and the Dvalin project as we now see Dvalin actually taking shape.”

The module is now prepared for sail-out to Mekjarvik outside Stavanger where it will be lifted onto a Saipem-owned heavy lift vessel.

From there, Saipem will transport the module to the Heidrun platform for installation.

The Dvalin gas field is located in the Norwegian Sea some 15 kilometers north-west of the Statoil-operated Heidrun platform and 290 kilometers from the Nyhamna processing plant. DEA submitted the plan for development and operation of the Dvalin field, formerly known as Zidane, to Norwegian authorities in October 2016 and the plan was approved in March 2017. First gas from the field is expected in 2020.

The development plan entails a subsea tieback to the adjacent Heidrun platform. Gas from the field will be transported via Heidrun through the Polarled pipeline to the Nyhamna plant before being sent to the European market via Gassled.

It is also worth mentioning that Aker Solutions last week loaded out Dvalin subsea template, marking the beginning of a series of Dvalin marine operations planned for the next couple of weeks.